The Hotel Fauchere offers guests a “home away from home” experience, with fine dining in our Delmonico Room, a stylish bistro Bar Louis and a “guest only” conservatory and garden. We also offer the Emerson House at the Hotel Fauchere, an event venue perfect for small groups, parties and business meetings and retreats.

Your experience at our Poconos hotel starts with your reservation – we offer in-room check-in and a personalized rest experience, all arranged before you arrive. We work hard to anticipate all your needs, and pay close attention to all the details.

Our beds can also be customized for the ultimate sleeping experience , and include an 11″ firm mattress, a 2 inch feather bed, and two twin down comforters. Bed linens are Egyptian cotton from Frette, Italy.

Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:

The Hotel Fauchere offers guests a “home away from home” experience, with fine dining in our Delmonico Room, a stylish bistro Bar Louis and a “guest only” conservatory and garden. We also offer the Emerson House at the Hotel Fauchere, an event venue perfect for small groups, parties and business meetings and retreats.

Your experience at our Poconos hotel starts with your reservation – we offer in-room check-in and a personalized rest experience, all arranged before you arrive. We work hard to anticipate all your needs, and pay close attention to all the details.

Our beds can also be customized for the ultimate sleeping experience , and include an 11″ firm mattress, a 2 inch feather bed, and two twin down comforters. Bed linens are Egyptian cotton from Frette, Italy.

Our rooms also include a bottle of wine, fine water and artisan chocolates made by the hotel’s wonderful pastry chef. Our decor is stylish and luxurious, including our original hardwood floors, beautiful Carrerra marble in our bathrooms, and Pennsylvania blue stone.

The Hotel Fauchere has wifi and DSL internet access, free for guest use, and can also provide iPod audio docking systems upon request.

We serve a continental breakfast every morning in The Delmonico Room.

Hotel Fauchere’s guests enjoy priority reservations and seating in The Delmonico Room and in Bar Louis. Parking in the hotel’s private lot is also included in the price of your stay.

Coming to the Poconos? Stay in luxury at the Hotel Fauchere!

Cancellation Policy: Two weeks prior to the arrival date, a full refund will be provided. One week prior to arrival, there will be a 50% refund for the entire stay. There will be no refund for reservations cancelled within the week of arrival.

Calling all Northeastern thrill-seekers: the Poconos region is adding two more gargantuan destination resorts to its roster this summer. Newcomers Camelback Resort and Kalahari Resort both boast massive indoor waterparks that push the boundaries of wet-and-wild fun — joining the Poconos’ two existing indoor waterpark resorts that have been serving up excitement come rain or shine for years. The next time you’re looking for massive slides and epic wave pools, these are your options:

Aquatopia at Camelback Resort (Mt. Pocono)

Opened in early May, Aquatopia is the crown jewel of the Camelback’s new hotel and spa complex. Follow the adventures of fictional character Kartrite Van Der Berris on his world adventures, as you meander through 13 slides in the 125,000-square-foot park. One of its claims to fame is the Venus SlydeTrap, which relies on state-of-the-art technology to send the brave swerving and plummeting into the mouth of a mega Venus flytrap. And don’t miss the Storm Chaser, North America’s longest indoor uphill water coaster.

Kalahari Resort (Pocono Manor)

Set to be unveiled on July 1, Kalahari’s Poconos outpost is the brand’s third location (just after Sandusky and Wisconsin Dells) and brings the brand’s trademark safari motif to Pennsylvania. Upon opening, the indoor facility will measure in at an impressive 100,000 square feet — and a second phase that’s just begun will eventually double the size. For now, kick back on an inner tube and float down the lazy river, put your skills to the test on the FlowRider surf simulator, or crash against the waves in the wave pool.

At Purple Roofs, we list more than 5,000 gay and lesbian owned and friendly accommodations around the world with extensive information. But we also have our Select List – more than 500 properties with full page Expanded Listings on the Purple Roofs site, where you can easily view photos and get more information about these welcoming properties.

Today, we’ll profile one of these properties:

Property Name: Frog Hollow Vacation Rental

Canadensis, Pennsylvania
Lesbian Owned

Rustic 1920’s cottage nestled deep in a Pocono Mountain hollow. The huge screened-in porch, deck, running brook and large fireplace in the living room add to the restful feeling of this vacation getaway. Available for rent weekends and weekly year-round. Two hours from NYC, Philadelphia. Skiing, swimming, golfing, boating, antiquing and hiking minutes away. Weekly rates $700/1-2, $800/3-4 people.

As organizers of the upcoming Pride Fest in Wilkes-Barre gather, a strong sense of community and celebration will serve to connect gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight people of all kinds.

Pride Fest, set for Sunday, Aug. 14 and organized by the NEPA Rainbow Alliance, will promote the idea of equal rights and gay pride. After the recent passing of legislation in New York to allow gay people to marry, a feeling of excitement has washed over many GLBT residents in northeastern Pennsylvania, according to Rainbow Alliance Executive Director John Dawe.

“In New York, it is very exciting and a big step forward for the people that live there,” Dawe said. “Unfortunately, when they come back to Pennsylvania, their marriage in the eyes of law means nothing… It has no weight in Pennsylvania, unfortunately.”

At Gay Realty Watch, we look for news to share with you about the gay real estate market – both lgbt real estate news and news specific to gay and lesbian real estate meccas.

Forevergreen Streamside Cottage and its four acres are situated on the Broadhead Creek, in a lovely secluded valley just three miles from Buck Hill Falls and SkyTop Lodge.

Our Pocono Mountains cottage is very private, but still close to many outdoor activities and mountain attractions, including Camelback Ski & Water Park, Great Wolf Lodge and Mt. Airy Lodge & Casino.

Guests can take advantage of our fishing rights on a nationally known trout stream. Fishing rights to the entire thirteen mile stretch of the Broadhead above and below Forevergreen Streamside Cottage have been substantially controlled by fishing clubs since the turn of the century.

Our Poconos home has a southern exposure at the base of the mountain and is bordered front and rear by almost five hundred undeveloped forested acres. The cottage has an Arts & Crafts Adirondack feel to it, with floor-to-ceiling windows and custom woodworking details. The exterior siding was logged and milled on the property.

Nest was designed, from the reclaimed wood beams to the modern room furnishings, by its owners, Mark & Sally Heiblim. The two second floor guest rooms have been newly remodeled to include steam showers, HDTV flat screen entertainment systems, restful bedding, and comfortable chairs. Nest is as well appointed as a fine hotel.

Each guest room offers the same features, including queen size beds, WIFI, and iPod Dock / Clock Radio / Alarm. Your nightly rate includes breakfast, and we have packages which include local entertainment, activities and dining.

Nest is a contemporary style bed & breakfast situated on 3 and a half private, landscaped, wooded acres. Located adjacent to the 70,000 acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Nest offers an array of amenities to make your stay pleasurable and relaxing,

Frog Hollow is a two-bedroom cottage built in the mid-1920’s. It’s tucked back in the woods on a private road and is surrounded by rhododendrons and mountain laurel.

Take a walk down to the creek and enjoy the peaceful surroundings or “rock away” the night on the screened-in porch.

Read, play games, and just relax in the “Band Box” room. Sun yourself on the deck high among the trees. In the winter, snuggle up in front of the large stone fireplace.

Frog Hollow will accommodate up to 4 guests in its 2 large bedrooms. Both bedrooms open out onto a small balcony. It is a year-round house but you will need a 4-wheel drive vehicle from November through March.

The house has cable TV, VCR, and a CD/cassette player. Firewood and starters are provided. You will need to bring towels and linens for the double beds as well as all of your food if you chose to eat in.

There is a fully equipped kitchen, a gas grill, and some food staples are provided. If your choice is to eat out, there are many good restaurants nearby.

“It’s like living in a Norman Rockwell painting” is how Milford is sometimes described by residents, as it is the quintessential small town ideal, once called “the prettiest county seat in America” by Atlantic Magazine. However, this small town has a contemporary twist with cultural diversity that provides an edge of sophistication and cultural vitality.

The 2000 US Census was the first to track same-sex households and Pike County, PA, of which Milford is the county seat, showed the second-highest concentration of same-sex households of any county in Pennsylvania, trailing only urban Philadelphia. Milford has been cited as an up-and-coming destination for LGBT travelers by Out, Instinct, Logo and other gay media outlets.

The influx of LGBT people in recent years is due in part to Milford’s proximity – it is only 75 miles from New York City and 125 miles from Philadelphia—and in part to its pristine and largely-undeveloped rural and small-town character as well as an arts scene that is stimulating and exciting.

The bucolic small-town oasis sits in the heart of the verdant upper Delaware River Valley, right where the states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania meet. While the peak season is from May through fall leaf color, Milford hosts a number of festivals and events year-round, including an annual Music Festival in the summer, Festival of Wood in August, Black Bear Film Festival in October and eagle-watching from January through March (with the annual EagleFest close by, in Narrowsburg, NY).

The area is rich in heritage attractions. Milford is known as the birthplace of the American Conservation Movement and the home of Gifford Pinchot, the first head of the US Forest Service. Pinchot’s home, Grey Towers, is a 19th century Norman-esque chateau, designed by Richard Morris Hunt, and now operated by the US Forest Service and open to the public for tours.

Other great 19th century American architects, including Calvert Vaux, Frederic Law Olmsted, Jr. and McKim, Mead & White also have work in Milford; over 75% of Milford Boro comprises a National Historic District.

The Columns Museum, operated by the Pike County Historical Society, is an exceptional small-town historical museum with an extraordinary relic, the blood-stained flag that cushioned President Lincoln’s head moments after he was assassinated. A fascinating exhibit tells the story of the flag and the family of actors in Ford’s Theatre that evening who preserved it.

The village of Milford is chock-full of great shopping, with art galleries, antique shops, specialty boutiques and a wide array of restaurants, cafes and coffee shops. Check out this great video showing downtown Milford’s shopping options: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e50IljdpOUo

The spectacular 70,000 acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area, with its miles of hiking and biking trails, dramatic vistas, spectacular network of waterfalls, abundant wildlife and nearly 100 miles of a federally-protected “water trail” along the Delaware River, is within walking distance of Milford.

About Hotel Fauchère: The Hotel Fauchère was operated by the Fauchère family for 124 years, until closing in 1976. After a painstaking five year restoration by owners Richard L. Snyder and well-known gay activist Sean Strub (the founder of POZ Magazine), it reopened to great acclaim in 2006 and was accepted for membership into Relais & Chateaux in 2009. The result was the transformation of a derelict building into an architectural gem and culinary destination in the center of Milford, PA, which Atlantic magazine once labeled “the prettiest county seat in America” and Out Travler called “one hip and happening hotel.”The hotel’s 16 guest rooms evoke a gracious past, but with modern amenities, like high-speed internet access, flat screen TV, iPod docking stations, heated towel bars and radiant heat in the marble bathrooms. Bed and bath linens are by Frette, personal care amenities are from Kiehl’s.

The hotel’s Delmonico Room offers classic cuisine in an elegant salon. Bar Louis’s strikingly contemporary design aesthetic features photography by the Hilton Brothers and Christopher Makos, including a giant photograph of John Lennon and Andy Warhol behind the bar. Bar Louis offers bistro-style global cuisine, including its popular signature dish, Sushi Pizza. http://www.HotelFauchere.com

About Relais & Chateaux: Relais & Chateaux is an exclusive collection of 480 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants in 56 countries. Established in France in 1974, the Association’s mission is to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character. Furthermore, Relais & Chateaux is also a family of hoteliers and Grands Chefs from all over the world who share a passion for, and personal commitment to, ensuring their guests are privy to moments of exceptional harmony, an unforgettable celebration of the senses. From the vineyards in the Napa Valley to the beaches in Bali, from the olive trees in Provence, to the lodges in South Africa, Relais & Chateaux offers all the stops on the finest route for discovering each special place and country. http://www.RelaisChateaux.com”www.RelaisChateaux.com

The Brookview Manor invites you to recapture the art of relaxation in an enchanting country Inn.

Nestled in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, Brookview Manor is situated on over five hilly acres across from the Brodhead Creek and is surrounded by over 200 privately owned acres of forests. The Brookview Manor also boasts a 1,060 square foot wraparound porch with rocking chairs and what could be the county’s largest porch swing.

The first floor consists of a living room with a turreted music area that has a grand piano surrounded by three curved glass windows. The Hunt room, which has a fireplace, TV, VCR, and assorted games, is a great place to unwind from a busy day. The first floor includes the library area that also has a fireplace and is a quiet nook to relax in.